US2010142226A1PendingUtilityA1

Light guide for a lighting device

38
Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COPriority: Aug 10, 2006Filed: Aug 10, 2007Published: Jun 10, 2010
Est. expiryAug 10, 2026(~0.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Hans-Michael VogtMark PilhoferChristoph MichelCarsten SambrausNorbert SchifferUlrich KunzeJoachim LichtElisabeth Cura
G02B 6/002G02B 6/0088G02B 6/001B60Q 3/64G02B 6/0038B60Q 3/217G02B 6/00G02F 1/1335
38
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A lighting device comprises a side-light light guide ( 12 ) located in a support ( 13 ). To facilitate the location of the light guide ( 12 ) in the support ( 13 ) and ensure its retention in a predetermined orientation, at least one location feature ( 11 ) is formed on/in the light guide for engagement by the support. Advantageously, the/each location feature ( 11 ) has no substantial effect on the light output of the light guide through its light-emitting region ( 18 ).

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A lighting device comprising a side-light light guide located in a support, the light guide having, along at least part of its length, at least one location feature formed thereon/therein, the location feature(s) being engaged by the support to retain the light guide therein. 
     
     
         2 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the light guide has a light-emitting region and the engagement of the support with the location feature(s) also serves to retain the light guide in a predetermined orientation in the support. 
     
     
         3 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , in which the said at least one location feature extends along the length of the light guide. 
     
     
         4 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the said at least one location feature comprises a protuberance on the light guide. 
     
     
         5 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the protuberance is formed from the same material as the light guide. 
     
     
         6 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the light guide is a moulded article and the protuberance is integrally-moulded therewith. 
     
     
         7 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  3 , in which the said at least one location feature comprises a cut-out area in the light guide. 
     
     
         8 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cross-section of the light guide, excluding the location feature(s), is circular, elliptical or rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         9 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising light-extraction elements arranged to direct light out of the light guide through a light-emitting region extending lengthwise of the guide. 
     
     
         10 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the light-extraction elements are formed in the periphery of the light guide on one side of thereof, and the light-emitting region is on the other side of the guide. 
     
     
         11 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the said at least one location feature is positioned on the periphery of the light guide between the light-extraction elements and the light-emitting region of the guide. 
     
     
         12 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the light guide is provided with two location features in opposed positions on the periphery of the guide between the light-extraction elements and the light-emitting region of the guide. 
     
     
         13 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the said at least one location feature is positioned on the periphery of the light guide in the light-emitting region thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of  claims 9  to  13 , in which the light-extraction elements comprise optically-smooth reflecting surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the light guide is formed from a flexible material. 
     
     
         16 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the light output of the light guide is substantially unaffected by the presence of the support. 
     
     
         17 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the support extends along the length of the light guide. 
     
     
         18 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the support is formed with an opening for the passage of light emitted by the light guide. 
     
     
         19 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 18  when appended to  claim 17 , in which the opening extends along the length of the light guide. 
     
     
         20 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 18  or  claim 19 , in which the light guide can be pushed into the support through the said opening. 
     
     
         21 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including at least one light source positioned to inject light into the light guide at one end thereof. 
     
     
         22 . A side-light light guide having a light-emitting region and, along at least part of its length, at least one location feature by which the guide can be retained in a predetermined orientation in a support, the location feature(s) being so formed and positioned on/in the guide that the light output of the guide through the light-emitting region is substantially unaffected thereby. 
     
     
         23 . A light guide as claimed in  claim 22 , in which the said at least one location feature extends along the length of the guide. 
     
     
         24 . A light guide as claimed in  claim 22  or  claim 23 , in which the said at least one location feature comprises a protuberance on the guide. 
     
     
         25 . A light guide as claimed in  claim 24 , in which the protuberance is formed from the same material as the guide. 
     
     
         26 . A light guide as claimed in  claim 25 , in which the guide is a moulded article and the protuberance is integrally-moulded therewith. 
     
     
         27 . A light guide as claimed in  claim 22  or  claim 23 , in which the said at least one location feature comprises a cut-out area in the guide. 
     
     
         28 . A light guide as claimed in any one of  claims 22  to  27 , in which the cross-section of the guide, excluding the location feature(s), is circular, elliptical or rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         29 . A light guide as claimed in any one of  claims 22  to  28 , comprising light-extraction elements arranged to direct light out of the guide through a light-emitting region extending lengthwise of the guide. 
     
     
         30 . A light guide as claimed in  claim 29 , in which the light-extraction elements are formed in the periphery of the guide on one side of thereof, and the light-emitting region is on the other side of the guide. 
     
     
         31 . A light guide as claimed in  claim 30 , in which the said at least one location feature is positioned on the periphery of the guide between the light-extraction elements and the light-emitting region of the guide. 
     
     
         32 . A light guide as claimed in  claim 31 , in which the guide is provided with two location features in opposed positions on the periphery of the guide between the light-extraction elements and the light-emitting region of the guide. 
     
     
         33 . A light guide as claimed in  claim 30 , in which the said at least one location feature is positioned on the periphery of the guide in the light-emitting region thereof. 
     
     
         34 . A light guide as claimed in any one of  claims 29  to  33 , in which the light-extraction elements comprise optically-smooth reflecting surfaces. 
     
     
         35 . A light guide as claimed in any one of  claims 22  to  34 , which is formed from a flexible material. 
     
     
         36 . A lighting device comprising a light guide as claimed in any one of  claims 22  to  35  located in a support, in which the support engages the location feature(s) of the light guide to retain the guide therein in a predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         37 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 36 , in which the light output of the light guide is substantially unaffected by the presence of the support. 
     
     
         38 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 36  or  claim 37 , in which the support extends along the length of the light guide. 
     
     
         39 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of  claims 36  to  38 , in which the support is formed with an opening for the passage of light emitted by the light guide. 
     
     
         40 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 39  when appended to  claim 38 , in which the opening extends along the length of the light guide. 
     
     
         41 . A lighting device as claimed in  claim 39  or  claim 40 , in which the light guide can be pushed into the support through the said opening. 
     
     
         42 . A lighting device as claimed in any one of  claims 36  to  41 , including at least one light source positioned to inject light into the guide at one end thereof.

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